Window washing device



March 7, 19% A. c. RUGGIERO 2,499,88.

WINDOW WASHING DEVICE Filed Dec. 21, 1946 Fig.1.

MTJ'NVETOR he Quin 525;

. ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 7, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WINDOWWASHING DEVICE Anthony C. Ruggiero, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application December 21, 1946, Serial No. 717,704

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to window washing devices in general.

Among the objects of the present invention it is aimed to provide animproved window washing device, particularly suited for washing theouter rear faces of slidable window sashes, with which device the windowcleaner is not required to face the window when cleaning the outer sidethereof.

Particularly with vertically slidable window sashes, as extensively usedin the tall buildings of New York city, it has been the convention forwindow cleaners employed to clean such windows, when required to cleanthe outer faces of the windows, to step on the window sill and eitherbefore or after starting the cleaning operation to fasten themselves tothe outer sides of the building by safety belts and the like. While thiscon vention may be practicable for so-called professional windowcleaners, the average housemaid who is required to clean the outer facesof windows in tall buildings, hotels, apartment houses and the like,gains access to the outer faces by devious awkward ways so hazardousthat many,

if not most housemaids, refuse to take positions which require suchduties. With this hazard in mind, the present invention aims to providean apparatus which can with facility be manipulated either by a man orwoman while the operator is standing, or in some cases even sitting,within the building, that is, while he or she is located on the insideof the window being cleaned.

More specifically, the invention contemplates the use of an apparatushaving a pivotally mounted head to which may be expeditiously securedeither wet or dry cleaning cloths, chamois sheets or the like, and anarrangement of levers which can be quickly secured in differentconfigurations according to the portion of the window to be cleaned.

These and other features, capabilities and advantages of the presentinvention will appear from the subjoined detail description of specificembodiments thereof illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in whichFig. 1 is a perspective of a slidable window and of the apparatusconstituting the present invention in position for use.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation of the apparatus.

Fig. 3 is a section still further enlarged on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

In the embodiment shown, there is illustrated a conventional windowframe I having two vertically slidable window sashes 2 and 3. Theapparatus consists essentially of the detachable handle bars 4 and 5forming a J-shape or quasi J- shape as shown secured to one another andto the bent arm or rod 6 which has hingedly connected thereto the outerarm or rod 1, which in turn is pivotally connected to the bifurcatedbracket 3 secured to the rod or arm 9 which is pivotally connected tothe block or bracket l0 slidably mounted on the arm or rod portion l lof the bent arm 6. The block I0 is yieldable relative to the arm H andis provided with a tie-screw or set screw l2 and nut l3 for deflectingthe walls of the block Ill to frictionally engage the arm ll againstmovement when desired.

The free end of the rod 1 is pivotally connected to a head IS. The headI9 is provided with any suitable fastening means for attaching theretocleaning material such as a wet or dry cloth, chamois sheet, or thelike.

When the upper part of the window, such as the inner window 2 in theupper position is to be cleaned, then, as shown in Fig. 1, the bracket[0 is so fastened on the arm II that a decidedly large obtuse angle isformed between the arms I and 6. When the lower part of the inner window2, moved into the lower position, is to be cleaned, then the bracket I0is so fastened on the arm II that a decidedly small acute angle isformed be-. tween the arms 6 and l, and at least the handle portion 4removed, if not both handle portions 4 and 5 removed, and either thehandle portion 5 alone engaged or the handle portion 5 and the arm 6engaged or the arm 6 alone engaged by the operator when manipulating theapparatus.

The block Ill preferably has slots 32 out therein at opposite ends ofthe opening 34 provided for receiving the arm portion II, andconsequently when the arm portion II is positioned in the opening 34,and the nut I3 is tightened on the screw I2, the opposite walls of theblock I!) will then be deflected frictionally to grip the arm portionll. Preferably as shown, the arm 9 is provided with an enlarged portion35, which is jourrlialled on the smooth shank portion of the screw Thearms 6 and I are movable relative to one another being connected attheir ends to the hinge 36.

Any suitable anchoring means for connecting the cloth to the head l9 maybe provided so long as this anchoring means will firmly anchor the clothin place while being used and so long as this anchoring means can bequickly and expeditiously operated both for anchoring a cloth, forremoving a cloth and again anchoring a second cloth.

It is obvious that various changes and modifications may be made to thedetails of construction without departing from the general spirit of theinvention as set forth in the appended claim.

I claim:

The combination of a support for a window cleaning material parallel toand engaging the outer face of the window to be cleaned, a firststraight 'ssupporting arm pivotally connected to said support andextending at an oblique angle to the face of the window to be cleaned, asecond supporting arm pivotally connected to said first supporting armand having a bend therein, a bracing arm pivotally connected at one endto said first supporting arm intermediate the ends thereof, a blockslidably andpermanently mounted on said second supporting arm betweensaid bend and the outer free end thereof and pivotally connected to theother end of said bracing arm, the bendforming a stop to determine :theouter- .most position ofthe block,and a set screw foririctionalllyanchoring said block against movement .atapredeterminedangle of saidsupporting arms to one another, the free end of said second .armextending to and beyond .the inner face of the to be cleaned.

ANTHONY C. RUGGIERO.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 322,070 Rutan July 14, 18851,234,441 Boyden July 24, 1917 1,235,447 Di Giovanni July 31, 19171,4161817 aGreelish May 23, 1922 1,841,835 McHugh Jan. 19, 19322,002,633 Greene May 28, 1935 2,032,498 Pearson Mar. 3, 1936 2,168,121French Aug. 1, 1939 ..2,18.7 ,670 .Suddarth, .Jan. 16, 1940 2,313,367Simor ,Mar. ,9, 1943 "FOREIGN EPATENIS .TNumber Country Date 5,837.Denmark J.uly.27, 1903

